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“In which case,” he said, “I get that Airbnb. We’ve had sex twice, and you’re already writing me off? Is my technique that bad?”
She laughed. Reluctantly, but still. “You must know it isn’t. Just know that I have no illusions here.”
He said, “You do realize that the man’s meant to be the one with the fear of commitment.”
“I’m not afraid of commitment. I’m excellent at commitment. My life is nothingbutcommitment.”
“Then show it. Have a little faith, woman.” He tried to scowl at her, but she laughed and said, “You’re right. I do realize you’re right.” Which made it pretty hard to fight with her.
So how about now? Were they eating that lasagna with the kids, doing some family-friendly activity for the required time, then putting said kids to bed and getting a chance to see what he could do when he wasn’t throwing a woman down on a dropcloth and had actually taken a shower?
No. They were at her parents’ house, eating Quinn’s gingerbread and applesauce—it wasn’t a bread at all, but a sort of cake, and it was moist, rich, spicy, and delicious, a bit like sticky toffee pudding. All of them but Troy, who was under the table cuddling a dog.
No, not Bacon. A stocky black animal named Duke—Cash Jeffries didn’t get any prizes for imagination—who was some sort of Labrador/bulldog cross and Cash’s hunting companion. The dog looked like a Lab who’d been hitting the gym and the steroids cupboard, and “tough” wasn’t a good enough word. At the moment, said tough dog was lying on his back with all four paws in the air, a goofy smile on his face, his floppy ears spread wide and his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth, and Troy was sitting beside him, rubbing his belly.
“Dad?” Troy asked. “Do you think Duke will like Bacon?”
“Yeah, he likes bacon,” Cash said. “Show me the dog who doesn’t.”
Beckett said, “Bacon’s our dog. The Chug.”
“Oh,” Cash said. “My answer stands. Bacon’s mighty tasty.”
“Really?” Troy asked. “He’deathim?”
“Nah,” Cash said. “Just joking.”
“I don’t think that’s very funny, though,” Troy said.
Bam said, “I agree. Honestly, Cash.”
Quinn said, her voice a little too bright, “We got another thing accomplished today besides my suddenly finished attic. The kids got a new babysitter! I remembered Carly Watkins. She’s been saving so hard for college, but she’s going to have a tough time unless she gets a really excellent scholarship. The best part is that she’s still a junior, so if it goes well, she can help Beckett out for a good long time. I gave her a call, and she came by, and—”
“Like I need ababysitter,”Janey muttered beside Beckett. “I wish she’d say, ‘Troy got a babysitter.’ She’s notmybabysitter.”
He was just about to shush her when Cash said, “Who’s this ‘we’? Why is it your job to get them a babysitter? Are the man’s fingers broken?” All of it sounding too much like Beckett’s own dad, and he was tensing up. He and Quinn clearlyhadgone too fast, because they were in no way ready for “meet the parents.”
He was expecting Quinn to make another smoothing-over comment and invent a reason they needed to leave. The kids having school tomorrow would be a good one. Suited him fine.
He should have known better, because she said, “Why on earth did you invite us over, Dad, if you’re just going to be nasty to Beckett?”
“I didn’t,” he said. “Your mom did.”
“You don’t invite people into your house,”she said, “and be a jerk to them! In what world is that Montana hospitality?”
“You’re eating, aren’t you?” he said. “Good gingerbread, by the way.”
“OK,” she said, and stood up. “We’re having a talk. Let’s go.”
Troy didn’t say anything, but his face had that pinched, closed-down look Beckett hadn’t seen in a while as he sat, frozen, his hand still on the dog. Janey whispered,“Dad.”
Beckett stood up. “I’m going to take the kids home. Thanks for dinner, Bam. Good tucker.”
“Burgers and salad,” she said, “that’s all. Next week, I’ll try to wow you a little more.”
“I’ll take burgers,” he said. “But it’s time for us to go. Want to come with us, Quinn, or get a lift home from your mum later?”
“Neither,” she said. “Mom, can you take the kids to watch TV or something?”
